St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-23
THE OLD CURMUDGEON,

acter Well Known to Every Body.
You have seen people who seemed t.
ache all over to make some one I'm
happy? just such an old curmudgcor
was on the train the other day when i
stopped at St. Thomas, and a brida
couple entered our car. We all knew
1t was bridal couple, because there
We're friends down to see EN- off, and
| the bride and groom stood there and
received the congratulations for four OF
i've minutes. The bride looked bit
older than the groom, and the minute
the old curmudgcon noticed this he
Slid over and plankcd himself in the
seat ahead of them, and after minute
or two turned and said:
beg pardon, but can you tell me
VINO funeral that was back thcre?'
NV ny, there was no funeral!' ex-
CLAIMED the bride, in answer.
"Oh! | thought there was" he said,
IN a dry, sarcastic way, and he pre-
tended to read his paper for three or
tour minutes before turning again
with:
Are you taking your son to the sea
shore, ma 'am?'
''No, sir This is my hu>band!'
"Oh, it is? I'd never have suspect.
ed it!'
linen he went on for quarter of an
hour, telling about a farm he owned
IN Canada, and then suddenly in.
quircd:
Young man, I'd like to have you
and your aunt 90 and see the farm and
make me an offer for it,
The bridal couple turned white and
red and let 90 of hands for moment,
while the old curmudgcon changed the
subject and began to talk about Niar.
ara Falls.
Ever therc?' he asked.
Both shook their heads.
I'D advise YOU to stop off if YOU
have time. It's a grand sight. | sup
pose, though, You want to arrive at
the same time with the body. What
did he die of, ma amp
IL don't understand you." she
stammercd, in Il painful way.
"Oh, beg pardon, | somehow got il
INTO my head that You had been to Il
or were going to one, or some
such thing
He then related the particulars of a
'mash-up on the road in which he had
IN arm broken and his wife was killed,
md added:
1.-The case IS in court vet. but I've
oSt my marriage certificate and cant
prove she was my wife and don't ex-
'tct to get any damages. | think
understand YOU to say, ma am, that
'ou have been married fourteen
calS?"
"Oh, no. no. SIR
BEG pardon. but perhaps it is only
Inc or ten What | was going to say
as that you ought to sacredly pre-
rye the certificate. | suppose YOU
ave it with you?"
Bride and groom looked at each
Their in CONSERVATION. The document
admit been thought of in their hurry
nd happiness.
'Was reading of case the other
ay, placidly continued the old
retch, where hotel-kecper had a
ouple sent to prison for two years be-
ause they could not show marriage
The bride turned so red that it {
'emed as if she would sutiocate, and
lie groom so white that his ears
oked like new blotting pads. That t
as the last straw. Five or six of us i
I'd been holding an Indignation meet
g w seats back, and our delegate,
no had whipped his seventh man in
e prlze-ring, now went forward and ,
hispered in the old curmudgeon' left l
L: l
Say, mister man, you let that couple r,
one or I'll break your neck! This Y
ing has been carried far enough!' S
"Certainly- said old b
eanness, as he got up. Excuse me, a
am-and you, bub-and if YOU y
ould have any trouble with the corpse Il
Buffalo, don't fail-''
The delegate choked him off there "
q took him to the last seat in the car Il
d damned him down and warned s.
n to stay damned, and such looks of "
lief rs stole over the faces of that r
dial couple never expect to see W
lln on earth.--Dctr0it Free Press.
Deserving of Credit. "
1rooor G, ,~o,, L,. H., ..